Fall Into Fun

A word from Hudson Valley Executive Editor, Olivia J. Abel

By Olivia J. Abel

Published: 09/02/2014

Photograph by Michael Coluccio

Every year, in the September issue, I write about how much I love the fall. I write about how the often-idyllic weather, all the Halloween hoopla, and the hundreds of fun things to see and do as the social season heats up, contribute to what I consider — hands down — the best time of the year. The only bad thing about fall is that it inevitably leads to winter. C’mon, you remember the bone-chilling, never-ending snowstorm winter of 2013-2014, don’t you? But I still feel the same way about autumn. And once you read all of our fall coverage, you’ll know why.

We start with our Fall Getaways cover story (read it here). This year, we decided to stay home. Well, not home exactly, but we did decide that there’s nowhere else we’d rather celebrate the season than in the Hudson Valley. So we checked out nine outstanding lodgings scattered throughout the region, and then highlight how you can have the most fall fun at each one.

Some of these spots, like the sophisticated Dylan Hotel in Woodstock, are brand-spanking new. Assistant Editor Rosemary Fernandez also checked out another newbie: the hip, city-style Barlow Hotel on Hudson’s main drag. She said, “It has the perfect blend of old-fashioned charm with modern luxuries. And it’s right on Warren Street — that means lots of shopping!” Of course, while the addition of several cosmopolitan boutique hotels is certainly great for the local economy and travelers, they are not the only game in town. We also visited some inns and B&Bs, too. I’ve always wondered about the Pig Hill Inn, a brick B&B situated on top of a shop on Cold Spring’s Main Street. My daughter and I love to hop on the train from Beacon, go one stop to Cold Spring, get off, wander around the village a bit (ice cream is usually involved, too), and then go home again. For a five-year-old, the train trip elevates this little excursion to a whole other level. Now that I know you can have a wide variety of breakfasts delivered to your room at this inn, though, we may have to spend the night sometime.

Also in this issue, we introduce you to the world of homebrewing (here). It seems that everybody is doing it these days, a point that was underscored when I drove past Adams Fairacre Farms in Wappingers Falls a few months ago. The main sign out front, which often trumpets great market specials on food, said simply, “Get your homebrewing supplies here.”

I like good beer, and I’m lucky that my neighbor likes to make beer. Like most homebrewers, he’s completely passionate about his craft. In fact, I remember that his wife — my good friend — was once talking about the hazy, exhausting first few months of parenthood. Anyone who has been there knows what I’m talking about. She recalled being awakened suddenly one night; she assumed that her husband was bringing the baby to bed. But no, he was simply moving the beer container into the bedroom. “It’s got to be the right temperature,” he whispered.

Of course, he was forgiven for interrupting her sleep. After all, it was a great batch of beer. I’m looking forward to the next barrel.
Enjoy the issue.